05 Apr 2009

A Great New Bra To Try

I recently had the fantastic opportunity to review a new Cacique bra from Lane Bryant.  I jumped at the chance because I love the Cacique bras.  This was the new Push Up Demi bra that they came out with in February.  This is the promo they sent on the bra:

Here’s the 411 on the Push Up Demi –

– It’s lightweight, supportive and comfortable for everyday wear
– Delicate lace side details add a feminine touch to this versatile bra
– Convertible multi-placement straps disappear under many clothing styles
– Available in black, sugar, café mocha, cloudy day, grey, bamboo, watermelon and    Caribbean sea (sounds like a delicious vacation!) –- Available in size 36-44 C-D

I was so excited to be able to get this bra.  I don’t have a Lane Bryant store nearby, since I live out the middle of nowhere.  (Well, not really, it’s just a nice small town, but no shopping centers, and I digress)  But, I went to visit my son and daughter-in-law in Oklahoma when my brand new grandson was born.  I took advantage of the opportunity to go to the Lane Bryant store there.  I headed straight for the Cacique Push Up Demi Bra display.

Cacique Push Up Demi Bra
Cacique Push Up Demi Bra

Can you blame me?  Isn’t this just a totally gorgeous bra?  I tried on the size of my then current bra, but it didn’t fit.  Much to my chagrin, it was the biggest one they had in the store.  Couldn’t wait to get back home (who needs a grandbaby, when you can have a new bra, right? :) ).

Went online to Lane Bryant and ordered the largest size offered in the delicious mocha color.  I measured beforehand using the handy size chart Lane Bryant supplies.  Okay, it said I needed a larger bra than I ordered, but I just knew that couldn’t be right.  I ordered some of their bra extenders just in case.

My much anticipated bra arrived!  I fell in love with the look and feel of it.  Talk about soft.  And the lace inserts and band made me feel so feminine!  I tried it on and it was so smooth under my clothes.  No line visible.  And had great lift.  My bust was no longer down at my waist!

Unfortunately, I think the size charts were right and I needed a bigger bra.  I tried my bra extender, which gave me the comfort in the band area.  But, it messed up the whole engineering of the bra, if bras are engineered.  By adding the extra length to the back of the bra, it made it where the underwire went forward more to the front, and not where they were designed to be.  And, they were very uncomfortable there.

With all this said, I still love this bra.  It is not its fault that I insisted on buying the wrong size.  In fact, I love this bra so much that I am motivated to loose those inches so that it will fit correctly and I can wear it all the time.

Do go check it out.  Just make sure you get the right size, and if you are larger than a 44 DDD, you might need to try one of Cacique’s other great bras instead.

Oh, and I found out that  if you go to a Lane Bryant store and try on an item and find that you need a size larger and it’s not available in the store, tell a sales associate.  It is their policy that they will order the item for you and you get free shipping on it.  You can’t beat that for customer service.

Thanks Lane Bryant and Cacique for giving me the chance to review such a great bra!

30 Mar 2009

Hat-A-Tude

Maybe you’re already thinking about this years “Run for the Roses,” dreaming about a mint julep, fantasizing about the Belmont Stakes, or perhaps looking to make a bold statement. Whatever the case, OneStopPlus.com, the world’s first and only plus-size web mall, has the most fashionable and unique hats.

BOWS:

With ornate decorations such as large bows, these fashionable derby hates offer a one-of-a-kind feel to the well-dress hat enthusiast. Sport one of these hats and you will be sure to be the ultimate jewel in the Triple Crown of fashion.

 Wide brim hat from Whittall & Shon™

Wide brim hat from Whittall & Shon™

Cutwork trim hat by Whittall & Shon™

Cutwork trim hat by Whittall & Shon™

Cutwork Hat

Cutwork Hat


FLOWERS:

Show your style with these classy, yet unique flower detailed hats which come in a variety of colors and shapes.

Brocade pillbox by Whittal and Shon™

Brocade pillbox by Whittal and Shon™

Flower Trim Hat

Flower Trim Hat

Center clasp hat

Center clasp hat


With one of these great hats, you are sure to be the envy of all.

Best of all, if you shop quickly, you can get one of these wonderful hats in time for Easter!

19 Mar 2009

The Ultimate Blog Party

I am really excited because I am going to participate in the Ultimate Blog Party for 2009. This is my first time to do so and it sounds like it will be the best fun around! Basically, bloggers and non-bloggers can travel caravan-style from one great blog to another during the week of March 20-27th. This is a great way to make new friends online and get to read some of the best blogs around.

The Ultimate Blog Party is a sure way to increase readers and traffic to a blog, which is every blogger’s goal. Where else can you be exposed to some many different blogs, readers and bloggers in one place.

Oh, I forgot to tell you. There are prizes at the Ultimate Blog Party. And refreshments (okay, so I understand there are some really great recipes shared).

Come join the fun. The Ultimate Blog Party is hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom. Just go there to start the party and follow whatever links strike your fancy!

Hope to see you there! I’ll share some of the great new friends and blogs I find with you. Oh, and be sure to invite all your friends and family too. You can even tweet about it!

If I am a lucky winner of one of the prizes, my top three picks of prizes would be:

1. #58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer Provided by: Moms Who Think
Prize details: From Amish Friendship Bread to Decadent Cheesecake and all the meals in between dessert, Moms Who Think has recipes you’ll love. We would like to donate a Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer to help make one lucky winner’s home cooking even easier. (winner’s choice of color, $349.99 retail value)

2. #113 — $25 gift certificate to Office Max (two winners) Provided by: Multi-Tasking Mama
Prize details: Buy some products to organize your home or office on me! Multi-Tasking Mama would like to donate a $25 gift certificate to two winners to this popular store.

3. #116 — One Copy of Joy’s LIFE Diet: Four Steps to Forever Thin Provided by: It’s Come To This
Prize details: “Learn how to love tasty, healthy food while losing weight with Joy’s no-fuss, four-step diet plan” … it’s working for me:)

If those prizes are already taken (and who wouldn’t want any of them?), my next favorite are: #37,22,21, 20,12, 11, and 10.

There are some of the best prizes available anywhere. Really, I would love to have any of them. Which one would you like?

Did I tell you that you don’t have to be a blogger to win the prizes?

20 Feb 2009

Get the Look: Confessions of a Shopaholic

I know that I am not telling you anything you didn’t know, but, 62% of women in the United States are plus size, yet finding fashionable clothes to fit the curvy body has been next to impossible.

But I have great news for you. You don’t have to be a size 2 to get the look of Isla Fischer in “Confessions of a Shopaholic”; don winter jackets, funky accessories and leather gloves in sizes that *real* women wear. Visit OneStopPlus.com, the world’s only plus-size web mall for these celebrity looks-for-less.

13 Feb 2009

Just Twittering Around

I don’t know if you have started using Twitter or not, but I have. I really do find it fascinating and it’s hard for me to describe. It’s kinda like being invited to the world’s largest party. Twitter breaks all the barriers of distance and socio-economic standing. Where else do you get to be exchanging ideas with a millionaire in New York City, a life coach in California, or a columnist from San Francisco?

Because all communications have to be less than 140 characters, you tend to not waste words. On Twitter, it seems as if everyone talks the same language, the language of Tweets. A Tweet is the message you send. You can find people who seem to be interesting to you by looking at their Twitter page. There you will see very abbreviated information about them and can peek in on the Tweets they have sent. If you want to tell someone about a website or article posted on a website, you can shorten the location name to not waste your characters.

There are even Tweetups and Tweetfestivals in major cities which bring the viral world of social media to life in the “real” world. Twitter is used to network and advertise your business. It also is a way of finding friends or a job. I have found myself learning so much information about internet marketing and ways to make a living online from the contacts I have made on Twitter.

To tell you the truth, Twitter is almost like allowing yourself to be manic. All aspects of your personality can be fed with stimulus coming at you almost endlessly 24 hours a day. Where else can you find people who are interested in politics, the economy, food, losing weight, and working at home at the same place and time. And all from the comfort of your keyboard!

I have learned so much and gotten so many ideas for what I wanted to write from reading everyone’s Tweets and then their blogs or websites. So many ideas I want to share with you.

But, I must admit that I need to learn to curtail my Twitter activities some in order to get concrete “stuff” done. Either that or I will have to form the fist 12 step Twitter program!

You can follow me on Twitter @carolelarkin on www.twitter.com! Happy Tweeting!

06 Feb 2009

Free Daffiny Heart Necklace from Emitations

Wow! I’m really excited about this. Just as promised, Patrick from Emitations has another giveaway today. Just got an email from him saying that my readers can get a FREE Daffiny Heart Necklace for Valentine’s Day with a purchase of $30.

That is a great deal considering that the necklace is priced $27.99 by itself. All you have to do is go HERE , find something you want to buy for $30.00 or more, and enter code AFDAFF at checkout and you will get your free Daffiny Heart Necklace.

This way you can buy a gift for a loved one, and keep the necklace for yourself! They’ll never know.

Better hurry! This offer expires February 14th, of course!

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